Gun wrestled away; intruder is killed

An armed intruder who kicked in the door of a house near downtown Everett was killed with his own gun Tuesday night, a resident said.

Everett police detained and then released a man they described as an acquaintance of a man who rented the upstairs portion of the house in the 2300 block of Wetmore Avenue. The shooting happened in the interior stairwell leading from the front door up to the resident's living quarters, said Gretchen Galstad, who rents the lower unit.

Galstad said the intruder, whom police have not identified, kicked in the door and then encountered the renter's acquaintance on the stairs. The intruder fired at least two shots before the other man wrestled the gun away and shot the intruder with it, she said.

Police spokesman Sgt. Robert Goetz said "probable cause does not exist at this time" to arrest the acquaintance. Goetz said the incident "does not appear to be random" and the investigation is continuing.

Everett

Third arrest made in shooting of man

Everett police made a third arrest Wednesday in the weekend shooting death of a 19-year-old man.

Robert Sandgren was shot in the head Saturday night in his home in the 5400 block of Broadway.

Two Everett men, ages 23 and 24, were arrested Monday on suspicion of first-degree murder.

An Everett police detective spotted the third suspect Wednesday afternoon in a pawnshop on Evergeen Way, and detectives later arrested the 26-year-old man on suspicion of second-degree murder, police said.

Court documents described many people coming and going at the Sandgren house on the day of his death. Nearly everyone in the house except Sandgren had smoked methamphetamine, according to the papers.

A history of domestic disputes between Sandgren and his girlfriend triggered the killing, the papers said. The three men reacted violently after Sandgren assaulted the woman Saturday night, according to court papers.

Ellensburg

State agency favors wind-farm plans

Plans for a wind farm 12 miles north of Ellensburg moved one step closer to reality when a state agency recommended approval despite objections from Kittitas County citizens and officials.

Horizon Wind Energy says the project would meet demand for cleaner energy and bring tax dollars and economic development to the area. Citizens and officials, who have argued against the project for five years, say it will have a negative impact environmentally and visually.

The state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council has recommended approval of the project, with several conditions including how far away from homes the wind turbines need to be and how Horizon needs to protect wildlife.

Horizon already has shrunk its plans and now says it will build 65 turbines instead of 121, to generate 95 to 195 megawatts of electricity.

The proposal now goes to Gov. Christine Gregoire, who has 60 days to approve, deny or ask for further review.

Kent

Man, teen killed in crash identified

A man and a teen who were killed in a car crash in Kent early Saturday have been identified by the King County Medical Examiner's Office as Jeremy Gidlund, 20, and Katelyn Moen, 14.

The two were northbound on Highway 167 between South 180th and South 212th streets at 1:30 a.m. Saturday when Gidlund's speeding car veered off the road and crashed into a tree.

The pair were wearing seat belts, and the air bags deployed.

Seattle Times staff and news services